10%

Crested Butte Fall Golden Aspen Engagement Session

Jessie + Will in the Aspens

By Ashleigh Cropper

March 20^th, 2024

When asked if there is one place I really love in Colorado, my answer is always Crested Butte! It has the most amazing outdoor landscapes! From The Crested Butte Mountain Resort, colorful downtown and endless outdoor options, it makes for a place like no other!

Jessie and Will wanted to travel from Boulder to somewhere outdoors with amazing golden aspens and epic backdrops! We traveled to Crested Butte (a 4.5 hour drive from the front range Boulder/Denver area) and I took them to some of my favorite locations!

Crested Butte Fall Golden Aspen Engagement Session

3 Tips for Peak Fall Aspens

It is a learned process with estimating the peak season for the golden aspens turning that perfect bright yellow! After nine seasons of tweaking and working through that gorgeous fall season in the Colorado mountains, I have nailed down a few tips.

1) Pick the aspen grove you are hoping to photograph at first. Then you can monitor that area specifically since elevation, water precipitation, sunlight all matter in when that grove will change color. The entire state of Colorado's aspens do not all change at the same time, some come earlier and others weeks later.

2) General rule is the third weekend of September is usually peak foliage for places like Vail and down into the front range like Kenosha Pass. If you are not able to be flexible with timing, that is my usual "go to" time for those wanting colorful aspens.

3) I like to check-in with Colorado State Forest Service website. They will update a map with the foliage predictions for peak and are typically quite on the spot! Also the local news in Denver such as KDVR will give updates starting beginning of September for when they expect the peak aspen trees to turn.

Photography Tips During Peak Aspens

I have to say, it is always the busiest time of year for photos in Colorado! I completely understand the hope and want for capturing this beautiful time of year, but people flock to the aspens to capture their beauty in droves of people.

I am often overwhelmed at the more popular locations that are swarming with tourists and photographers!

My best tip to photographers is to get out of the usual, popular locations and find your own aspen grove! Take the dirt roads and see where it gets you. I have found amazing locations like the one I photographed for this engagement session, off a dirt road about ten minutes outside of Crested Butte.

No one was at the grove when we photographed and we had the area all to ourselves.

If possible, photograph really early at night or right before blue hour when people are not typically around.

If it is busy, be patient and kind. Everyone is wanting to enjoy this time of year and it's important to work together and allow space while realizing you will be around others.

Crested Butte When Visiting!

I know Crested Butte best during the summer and early fall time. That is when I happen to be in the area the most and want to spill some travel recommendations!

-Crested Butte Wildflower Festival happens in July since the area is the capitol for wildflowers in Colorado! I have been a few times and highly recommend adventuring around the outside of town and seeing the meadows full of color!

-Stroll down Elk Avenue-the main street of downtown Crested Butte is full of colorful buildings and cute shops. Go down some of the side roads and check out all the adorable homes! They are picturesque mountain homes full of character.

-Hiking- My personal favorite hike is called "Oh-Be-Joyful" trail right outside of town. It is an out and back trail so feel free to turn around whenever but I recommend at least 45 minutes of hiking into the valley.

-The Slogar-It is not a visit to Crested Butte without going to The Slogar! This restaurant is a must for us (side note, my husband used to be a chef so any food recommendation is going to be pretty awesome!) This place is family style and mainly fried chicken with all the sides you could ever imagine! Make sure to do reservations since often they are completely booked weeks out!

An Ode to Crested Butte

For locations in Colorado, Crested Butte has always been my favorite place to photograph! Every corner I turn outside of town as I would scout and prep for sessions would amaze me!

There are meadows, streams, aspen groves, valleys and mountains that will make you stop everything you're doing and just gaze at the beauty around you!